ABlairstownTownshipdentist -- previously accused of sexually assaulting a co-worker -- allegedly fired a
dental assistant after she spurned his sexual advances, according to a civil
complaint filed in New Jersey Superior Court in Belvidere.

A former dental assistant is suing Mark Nelke for firing
her June 2012 from his township dental office, according to the complaint filed Feb. 21. Pamela Spinelli alleges that Nelke retaliated against her for her
lack of romantic interest in him and her critical comments of what she saw as
patient mistreatment.

Nelke said he is familiar with the suit and denies the
allegations.

"I really can't comment on the case. The allegations are
false," Nelke said. "If we go to court, I don't have any doubt that we'll win."

Spinelli alleges that the sexual harassment culminated in an unwanted May 2012 visit from Nelke to her home. He allegedly parked outside her
home for 20 minutes and sent her text messages saying he wanted to kiss her
goodnight and have sex with her, according to the complaint.

She was fired one
month after the incident, according to court records.

Spinelli had voiced concern about how Nelke was treating
patients, according to the complaint. Nelke allegedly removed a young girl's
tooth without her mother's permission and treated the wrong tooth on another
patient, according to the court records.

Spinelli alleges she spoke to Nelke about the
incidents, and was fired two weeks later.

In 1993, a patient filed a complaint with the
New Jersey Board of Dentistry against Nelke related to an incident in which Nelke "lost his
temper," according to the complaint. The board and Nelke reached an agreement
that Nelke would undergo therapy and continue to take the antidepressant
medication, Prozac.

The board's website indicates that no other action against
Nelke has been taken since 1993. Board representatives said they cannot discuss
whether any additional allegations are under investigation.

This suit echoes some accusations filed in a 2007 suit
against Nelke. A former dental assistant alleged that the dentist sexually
assaulted and harassed her. The status of the previous case was not immediately clear from the New
Jersey Courts online database, and the woman's attorney did not immediately
return calls for comment.

Nelke declined to discuss the previous case.

Spinelli started working at the office in June 2011. Nelke would
allegedly make "inappropriate sexual comments and jokes," while
patients were under the influence of nitrogen oxide, according to the suit.

Nelke allegedly tried to kiss her and repeatedly told her he
had a crush on her, according to the lawsuit. He would also share details of his romantic relationships
with Spinelli, and show her pictures on his phone of women's cleavage, the
complaint alleges.

He also would invite her to "join him in his private
bathroom" and would look at the top of her and other female co-workers'
scrubs in an attempt to see their breasts, according to the complaint.

"We feel like in this case, there was some pretty egregious
conduct," said Spinelli's attorney Ursula Leo. "She suffered through, probably
longer than she should have, because she was afraid of losing her job."